Display cabinet



June 16, 1953 H. J. FITZGERALD EI'AL 2,642,329

DISPLAY CABINET 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 19, 1951 mmunnur I ,INVENTORS Jfllarney H. J. FITZGERALD El 'AL 2,642,329 1 June 16, 1953 DISPLAY CABINET Filed Dec. 19, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Patented June 16, 1953 DISPLAY CABINET Harold J. Fitzgerald, Milwaukee, and Henry S.

Berry, Fox Point Village, Wis.; said Berry assignor to said Fitzgerald Application December 19, 1951, Serial'No. 262,386

' 5 Claims. (01. 312 i3s) This invention relates :to display cabinets intended for wall mountingand it more p ically resides in a cabinet having a back sta with mounting means for attachment to a wall to which is attached near the bottom a forestage-extending outwardly from the back stage and an enclosure for the back and fore Stage comprising a frame with transparent sheet material seated therein to closely surround the back and fore stages and to enclose a' display area extending above the fore stage; which enclosure may be moved away from the fore and back stages and the display area to render the same accessible.

' sumed in the construction thereof...

The display area inwall mounted cabinets is usually defined by a backdrop from which extends near the bottom thereof a stage suitable M for support of the goods to be displayed. That space extending upwardly from the stage and forwardly from the backdrop is then enclosed within cabinet walls comprising in part transparent panels so as to shield the goods from dust, foreign matter, tampering and theft. The arrangement or dressing of the wares Within the cabinet plays an important rolev in the merchandising persuasiveness of the display. It is therefore important that the cabinet be so constructed that the person arranging the wares may have the utmost freedom of access to the entire display area.

It is an object of this invention to provide a display cabinet suitable for wall mounting that has an enclosure for the stage and display area that may be removed from enclosing position to render accessible the display area at the front thereof to permit arrangement of various wares to be displayed in the cabinet while standing from a vantage point that coincides with that of prospective purchasers.

It is another object of this invention to provide enclosing panels for a display cabinet that are adapted t0 be e u ed n 9 0$ Position by 2 a locking means wholly enclosed within the cabinet and which permits the enclosing panels to be moved to a fully open position without intersecting or interfering with the display area above the fore stage.

It .is still another object of this invention to provide an enclosure for a display cabinet with transparent panels in which the annoyance of reflection and glare is minimized.

These and other objects and advantages will appear in the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which there is shown by way of illustration and not of limitation one specific embodiment of this invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a display cabinet in which this invention is employed with the enclosure for the back and fore stages in partially open position,

Fig. 2 is a front view in elevation of the display cabinet shown in Fig. 1 with the enclosure for the back and fore stages in closed position,

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the display cabinet a keyhole like opening 4 with an enlarged lower portion adapted to fit over the heads of-suit able mounting pins, not shown, that are placed in the particular adjoining wall to which it is desired to fasten the apparatus. The size of the mounting pins is so chosen that the shanks fit within the narrow upperportions of the openings 4 While the heads are: too large to pass therethrough. In this manner a convenient means of mounting is provided for the display cabinet.

Spaced upwardly from the bottom of the backstage I and extending forwardly therefrom is a horizontal fore stage 5 that isfirml secured at its-after edge to the backstage I. Rising upwardly from the floor 6 of the fore stage 5 is a backdrop curtain that is positioned forward of the backstage I. To hang the curtain in po sition a bracket 8 is mounted on the backstage I.

An illumination chamber 9 is disposed at t top central portion of the backstage l. The chamber 9 is comprised of two side panels H], a roof panel H and a front panel 12 so as to form an open bottomed housing for a pair of spot lamps 13. To direct the 'light from the lamps 13 a spot shield 14 is placed over each lamp I3. To carry away the heat given off by the lamps l3 openings 15 are provided in the roof panel II and a bafiie plate [6 is disposed beneath each opening [5 to block the escape of direct light rays from the lamps'l3 or from a reflection that might otherwise pass directly through the openings l 5-.

An enclosure generally designated bythe reference numeral 11 is mounted on hinges 45 that are fastened along one edge thereof to the brick stage I and as is shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 3 the enclosure I! may be swung to and from a position of closure with respect to the assembly formed by the backstage I, the fore stage 5 and the illumination chamber 3. Comprising each of the sides l8 of the enclosure H is a vertically extendin back member 19 that ranges along a side marginal area of the backstage i with which is integrally formed a forwardly projecting lower bracket 20 and an upper bracket 2!. Each member 49 and the brackets 2B, 2! integral therewith form a frame that receives a transparent pane 22.

Extending between the lower brackets 23 and passing directly beneath the fore stage 5 is a rail 23 that lends rigidity to the enclosure i'i'. A second smaller rail 23 also extends between the sides l8 of the enclosure I! to join the rear lower corners of the back members 9. The rail 24 abuts the lower marginal area of the backstage I when the enclosure I1 is in closed position and the male portion 25 of a latch 26 mounted on the underside of the rail 24 engages the female portion 21 mounted at the bottom of the backstage I to restrain movement of the enclosure I! when in closed position.

Attached to and spanning between the forward ends of the brackets 20 is a narrow cross strip 28 that forms part of the front panel 29 of the enclosure ll. The strip 28 serves to support a transparent pane 30 and also supports a bottom cover 3| extending across the area bounded by the brackets 20, rail 24 and the strip 28. The cover 3| is hingedly supported for swinging vertical movement and a catch 32 pivotally mounted on the rail 25 retains the cover 3| in raised position when so desired.

Disposed between the forward ends of the upper side brackets 2| is a decorative front panel 33. The panel 33 serves to screen the illumination chamber 9 from a viewer standing in front of the'display cabinet. The panel 33 also retains the pane 33 and provides necessary rigidity. 'Behind the panel 33 and joined to both the-panel 33 and the upper margins of the brackets 21 is a left hand brace 34 and a right hand brace 35 that form with the illuminating chamber 9 an enclosing top for the display area of the cabinet.

The left hand edge 36 of the fore stage 5 follows an are centered at the hinge point as is clearly shown in Fig. 3, to enable theenclosure H- to be swung between open and closed positions.- A small supplementary stage portion 31 having a curved edge that mates that of the fore stage 5 is carried by the left hand lower side bracket 20 and upon placing the enclosure H in closed position the horizontal stage area extends across the entire width of the interior of the cabinet. To maintain a balanced design pleasin to the eye a line 38 is scribed on the right hand side of the floor 6 of the fore stage 5 so as to simulate the appearance of the curved edge 30.

The left hand brace 34 likewise has an arcuate edge 39 centered at the hinge point that mates with a curved projection 40 on the left hand side of the illumination chamber 9 for the purpose of permitting freedom of swinging movement for the enclosure 17.

To aid in dissipating heat emitted by the lamps 13 a series of apertures 4| are provided in the bottom cover 3| and the forward edge of the stage 5 is spaced rearwardly of the strip 28. An

air passage is thus provided that leads through the apertures 4i, under the stage 5 and upwardly along the inner surface of the pane 30 and hence through the illumination chamber Si and out the openings [5 above the lamps 13.-

Referring now to Fig. 4, on the underside of the stage 5 is fastened a downwardly extending bracket 42 and disposed in facing relationship thereto is a second bracket 43 that is fastened to the underside of the rail 23. Apertures in the brackets 42, 43, fall into alignment to permit passage therethrough of the shank of a lock 44. Locking the brackets 42, 43 together prohibits the opening of the enclosure ll. Also the locking device of the apparatus is removed from the exterior of the cabinet so as not to distract from the eye pleasing qualities that may be incorporated in the configuration of a cabinet in which this invention is embodied.

To gain access to the display area the catch 32 is manipulated to lower the bottom cover 3! and the lock 44 is unlocked. The enclosure H is thus rendered free to be swung open, the latch membars 25, 2'! disengaging themselves as the enclosure l'i is swung. The panel elements comprising the enclosure ll then may be swung about and then away from the display area above the fore stage 5 without cutting across or intersect ing the same. Continued swinging motion removes the enclosure H from the area to the front of the fore stage 5 without necessitating a detachment of the enclosure H. The person arranging the wares to be displayed may now do so from a position or vantage point that coincides with that of an intended viewer. From this position the visual effects or the wares may be ascertained as the wares are arranged. Also, the entire display area may be utilized since a return of the enclosure ll to closed position will not interfere with the wares disposed in any region of the display area.

We claim:

1. In a display cabinet intended for wall mounting a back stage including wall attachment means for attaching the same securely to a wall; a fore stage projecting forwardly from and secured to said back stage near the bottom thereof; an enclosure for said back stage and fore stage comprising a pair of vertical side enclosure panels ranged along the side margins of said back stage and a front enclosure panel comprising a lower cross member extending between the lower for-- ward margins of said side panels, an upper cross member extending between the upper forward margins of said side panels, and transparent sheet material extending between and seated in said lower and upper cross members; said enclosure closely surrounding said fore stage and extending upwardly therefrom at the front and sides thereof; a bottom cover beneath said forestage extending when in closed position between said pair of vertical side enclosure panels and between said back stage and said lower cross member of said front enclosure panel supported for movement with respect to said enclosure toward and away from closed position providing access to the space beneath said forestage and bounded by said back stage and said enclosure; and a horizontal top member extending across the top of said enclosure; said front enclosure panel being mounted for swinging movement whereby said panel may be moved away from said fore stage to render the same accessible.

2. In a display cabinet intended for wall mounting a back stage including wall attachment means for attaching the same securely to a wall; a horizontal fore stage projecting forwardly from and secured to said back stage near the bottom thereof a transparent enclosure for said back stage and fore stage closely surrounding and extending upwardly from said fore stage at the front and sides thereof, which enclosur comprises a three sided frame having a pair of vertical back members ranged along the side margins of said back stage, a pair of forwardly projecting lower bracket members one each being secured to the lower end of a respective back member, a lower cross member joining the forward ends of said lower bracket members, a pair of forwardly projecting upper bracket members secured one each to the upper end of a respective back member, and an upper cross member joining the forward end of said upper bracket members to complete said three sided frame, having a front and two sides, and transparent sheet material seated in the front and sides of said frame forming therewith said closely surrounding enclosure; a horizontal top member projecting forward from said back stage closing the top of said transparent enclosure; a bottom cover beneath said forestage closing the bottom of said transparent enclosure vertically swingable to and from closed position; locking means disposed beneath said forestage within said transparent enclosure and said bottom cover for locking said enclosure in position surrounding said forestage; and hinge means joining one margin of said enclosure to the adjacent margin of said back stage whereby said enclosure may be moved away from said back stage and fore stage to render the same accessible.

3. A display cabinet intended for wall mounting in accordance with claim 2 in which said horizontal top member comprises an illumination chamber secured to said back stage having a pair of vertically extending side walls spaced from one another and projecting forward from said back stage, a front wall extending between the forward marginal portions of said side walls, a top cover enclosing the top of said chamber, and an illumination source disposed within said cham- 6 ber directed to cause illumination of the back stage and fore stage of the cabinet.

4. A display cabinet intended for wall mounting in accordance with claim 3 in which said lower cross member of said three sided frame is spaced forward of the forward edge of said fore stage and said top cover of said illumination chamber and said bottom cover each have a plurality of spaced openings extending therethrough to permit a flow of air through said cabinet from beneath said fore stage and hence upwardly toward and through said illumination chamber.

5. In a display cabinet intended for wall mounting a back stage including wall attachment means for attaching the same securely to a wall; a horizontal fore stage projecting forwardly from and secured to said back stage near the bottom thereof; an enclosure for said back stage and fore stage comprising a pair of vertical side enclosure panels ranged along the side margins of said back stage, a lower cross member extending between and joining the lower forward margins of said side panels, an upper cross member extending between and joining the upper forward margins of said side panels, and transparent sheet material extending between and seated in said lower and upper cross members; said enclosure closely surrounding said fore stage and extending upwardly therefrom at the front and sides thereof; a bottom cover beneath said fore stage extending when in closed position between said side enclosure panels and between said back stage and said lower cross member hingedly supported at one edge for vertical swinging movement to and from closed position; a horizontal top member secured to said back stage and projecting forwardly therefrom closing the top of said enclosure; hinge means joining one margin of said enclosure to the adjacent margin of said back stage whereby said enclosure may be moved away from said back stage and fore stage to render the same accessible; and locking means disposed between said fore stage and said bottom cover when in locking position adapted to restrain movement of said enclosure with respect to said back and fore stages.

HAROLD J. FITZGERALD. HENRY S. BERRY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 86,878 Dohner May 3, 1932 258,720 Dickson May 30, 1882 315,343 Rose Apr. 7, 1885 402,151 Fain Apr. 30, 1889 1,054,311 Phillips Feb. 25, 1913 2,298,790 Klassen Oct. 13,1942 2,430,241 Nicholas Nov. 4, 1947 2,544,856 Perlin Mar. 13, 1951 

